Tuner control mechanism



May 5, 1931. H. F. ELLIOTT 1,803,346

TUNER CONTROL MECHANISM Original Filqd March 13, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR HIS ATTORNEY y 5, 1931. H. F. ELLIOTT 1,303,846

TUNER CONTROL MECHANISM Original Filed March 13, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HIS ATTORNEY UNITED STATES OFEC HAROLD F. ELLIOTT, 0F CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESN E AS SIGNMENTS, TO VICTOR TALKING.- MACHINE COMPAIIY, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY,

A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY TUNER- CONTROL MECHANISM Application filed March 13, 1928, Serial No. 261,311.

This invention relates to a mechanism that is arranged to actuate a tuning system, such as one or more variable condensers in a radio communication installation. More particularly, it involves the mechanism that can be moved to set such a tuning device in any desired position.

Ordinarily, such tuning devices or mechanisms cooperate with a scale and pointer whereby any particular setting can be readily duplicated. Since even a slight variation in the setting of the tuners may cause acorrespondingly large variation in the tuning of the devices, it is obvious that a precise and fine adjustment should be provided for, that supplements the coarse or initial adjustment. A control mechanism fulfilling these requirements is described and claimed in my 00- pending application, Serial #151,134, filed November 27, 1926 and entitled Tuning system.

It is one of the objects of my invention to improve in general the controlling mecha nism described and claimed in said prior application.

Another object is to provide novel means for effecting at will either a main or primary adjustment of a movable element, or a vernier or secondary adjustment thereof, from a single control member or actuator.

A further object is to provide novel means for controlling the movement of a movable element from a single control member whereby the control member may be moved bodily to effect a main adjustment of said element or rotated to effect asupplemental or Vernier adjustment thereof.

In the aforesaid application, I show a pivoted arm or lever that is mechanically connected to a number of variable condensers, and near the free end of the arm there is a roller that contacts with a slot. When it is desired to adjust the condensers, the arm is moved about its pivot to about the desired spot as indicated by a pointer mechanism also operated by the lever. For fine adjustment, the roller at the end of the lever is rotated on the edge of the slot. It is another object of my invention to provide an improved form of connection between the lever and the slot,

Renewed September 9, 1930.

so that this fine adjustment can be more conveniently effected.

My invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of my invention. For this purpose I have shown a form in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. I shall now proceed to describe this form in detail, which illustrates the general principles of my invention; but it is to be understood that this detaileddescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of my invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly in section, and partly broken away, of a mechanism embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along plane 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, taken along plane 33 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4: is a detail section taken along plane 44: of Fig. 2.

The lever 11 is shown as movable about a pivot 12 near the rear of the mechanism. It is connected, as by link 13 and extension 14, to a rotatable wheel 15. It is evident that as lever 11 is moved about its pivot, the wheel 15 is correspondingly moved. This wheel or its equivalent can be mechanically connected to one or more tuning devices, such as variable condensers, all as disclosed in my prior application.

The free end of lever 11 has an extension 16 to which is connected a mechanism where by it can be moved manually or otherwise. This mechanism has a portion extending through an escutcheon plate 17 or the like which is located in this instance on a sloping wall 18 of the apparatus in which the tuning devices are located. This wall 18, as well as escutcheon 17, is provided with a slot to pass the manually operable controls attached to lever 11.

A post 19 is fastened into extension 16 and extends through wall 18. For fastening this post to extension 16, it is provided with a threaded portion 20 that is flattened on each side to fit a similar shaped aperture in extension 16, whereby rotation of this post relative to extension 16 is prevented. A washer 21 and nut 22 pass over the extending extremity of portion 20, whereby it is tightly clamped to extension 16.

This post has a head 23 to confine a roller 24 thereon. This roller is molded into a knob 25 of insulation material, whereby it can be turned on post 19. The roller trictionally engages the bottom of the slot 26 in escutcheon plate 17, whereby upon such rotation of the roller, a fine adjustment of lever 11 can be obtained. The bottom edge 01 slot 26 is indicated in Fig. 3 by" the dot and dash line 27, and the top ed e by a similar line 28.

In order to urge the roller 2st firmly against the edge of slot 26, I provide a novel mechanism shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3. This includes a pair of supplementary or auxiliary rollers 29 and 30 which are urged resiliently between main roller 24 and the upper edge of slot 26. Thus these auxi iary rollers also engage the slot, and when main roller 2& is rotated for example in a clockwise direction to move lever 11 toward the right as viewed in Fig. 3, the rollers 29 and 30 are rotated by the main roller in a counter-clockwise rotation. These rollers, rolling on the top edge of slot 26, also serve to urge lever 11 in the same direction as the roller 24:.

Rollers 29 and 30 are rotatably supported on posts 31 and 32. These posts are mounted on levers 33 and 34 carried by the extension 16. These levers have large clearance holes 35 at their lower ends, which pass over headed pins 36 fastened to the extension 16. The looseness of the levers on pins 36 is necessary to ensure that, as the upper ends of these levers are urged toward each other, they can easily accommodate themselves to cause rollers 29 and 30 to wedge closely between roller 2 1 and slot 26. To urge these levers 33 and 34 resiliently together at their free ends, there is a spring 37 the ends of which are clamped as by set screws 38 in apertures in the levers 33, 34;.

It is evident that by the aid of the mechanism described, the arm 11 can be quickly moved to any desired point by taking hold of knob 25 and swinging the arm thereby about pivot 12. However, a fine adjustment for the arm can be secured, by slowly rotating knob 25. This has the eflect of actuating all three rollers 24, 29, and 30 so that they act as friction gears against the edges of the slot 26 in plate 17. In this way, anaccurate setting or arm 11 and thus of the tuning devices actuated thereby, is attained.

' I claim:

1. In an actuator, a movable arm, means for moving the arm, means providing a slot adjacent said arm moving means, a main roller engaging one edge of the slot and carried by the arm, and one or more auxiliary rollers engaging the opposite edge of the slot and also carried by said arm, said auxiliary rollers being actuated by the said main roller.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, with the addition of means for urging the auxiliary rollers between the main roller and that edge of the slot that said auxiliary rollers engage.

3. In an actuator, a movable arm, means for moving the arm, means providing a slot adjacent said arm moving means, a main roller engaging one edge or the slot and carried by the arm, one or more auxiliary rollers engaging the opposite edge of the slot and also carried by said arm, a support for said auxiliary roller and movably supported on the arm, said auxiliary roller being free to rotate on said support, and said support being movable in a direction to wedge the auxiliary roller between the main roller and that edge of the slotengaged by said auxiliary roller, and means resiliently urging said support to wedging position.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3, in which the support is mounted on a loose pin fastened to the arm to provide a play so that the auxiliary roller can accommodate itself readily between the main roller and the edge of the slot.

5. In an actuator, a movable arm, a pin fastened to the arm, a main roller supported on the pin, means forming a slot into which the main roller extends, one edge of said slot being engaged by said roller, a pair of pivotally mounted supports on said arm, pins adjacent the free ends of said supports, these pins having axes parallel to the main roller axis, auxiliary rollers rotatable on said pins and arranged each to contact with the main roller and the opposite edge of said slot, and a spring connecting said supports to wedge the auxiliary rollers between the main roller and the said edge of the slot.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5, in which the supports have large clearance holes passing over their pivotal mountings, so that the auxiliary rollers may readily adjust themselves to the space between the main roller and the edge of the slot.

7. In a device of the class described, a movable arm, means for moving said arm, a wall having a slot therein, a roller carried by said arm and engaging one edge of said slot, the width of said slot being greater than the diameter of said roller, and supplemental means carried by said arm and interposed to efiiect rolling engagement between said roller and the other edge of said slot.

8. In a device of the class described, a movable arm, awall having a slot therein, and means for moving said arm relative to said wall comprising a plurality of rollers carried by said arm and means wedging said rollers between the edges of said slot.

9. In a device of the class described, a movable arm, a wall having a slot therein, and means for controlling the movement of said arm relative to said wall comprising rolling means operatively connected with said arm and resiliently wedged in engagement with both edges of said slot.

10. In a device of the class described, a movable element, a wall having a slot therein, and means for controlling the movement of said element relative to said wall comprising a plurality of rollers operatively connected to said element and resiliently wedged between the edges of said slot.

11. In a device of the class described, a bodily movable member, a stationary member along the path of movement of said movable member, and gear means between said members and including a plurality of gears carried by said movable member to provide for vernler adjustments of said movable member without interfering with rapid translatory movements thereof.

12. In a device of the class described, a bodily movable member, a stationary memher along the path of movement of said movable member, and a friction means engaging said stationary member and including a plurality of gears carried by said movable mem ber to provide for Vernier adjustments of said movable member without interfering with rapid translatory movements thereof.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination of an actuator comprising a movable arm, a member having opposed surfaces, a roller journaled to said arm and riding on one of said surfaces, and an auxiliary roller yieldably supported on said arm so as to bear against the other surface for urging the first-named roller into engagement with the surface on which it rides.

14:. In a device of the class described, in combination, an actuator comprising a movable arm, a member having opposed surfaces, a roller journaled to said arm and riding on one of said surfaces, and a member movable with said arm riding on the other surface and mounted so as to urge the first-named roller against the surface on which it rides.

15. In combination, an actuator and a member having substantially parallel opposed surfaces, said actuator including an arm having a roller journaled thereon and riding on one of said surfaces, a second roller riding on the other surface and yieldingly urging the first-named roller against the surface on which it rides.

16. In combination, an actuator and a track along which the actuator moves, a roller on said actuator riding on said track, a surface opposing said track and a member riding on said surface and yieldingly urging the roller against the track.

17. In a device of the class described, the combination of an actuator and a track along which the actuator moves, a roller on the actuator riding on the track, a surface opposing the track, and a member bearing on said surface and so related to the roller as to maintain it normally in engagement with the track.

18. In a device of the class described, the combination of an actuator and a track along which the actuator moves, a member on the actuator riding on the track, a surface substantially parallel to the track, and a member bearing on said surface and connected to the actuator so as to maintain the first-named member normally in engagement with the track.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HAROLD F. ELLIOTT. 

